Ezekiel 1:14
Ezekiel 1:14 in Multiple Translations
The creatures were darting back and forth as quickly as flashes of lightning.
And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
And the living beings went out and came back as quickly as a thunder-flame.
The beings raced to and fro as fast as the lightning flashes.
And the beastes ranne, and returned like vnto lightning.
And the living creatures are running, and turning back, as the appearance of the flash.
The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of lightning.
The creatures moved back and forthextremely rapidly, like [SIM] flashes of lightning.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 1:14
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 1:14 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הַ/חַיּ֖וֹת
רָצ֣וֹא
וָ/שׁ֑וֹב
כְּ/מַרְאֵ֖ה
הַ/בָּזָֽק
וְ/הַ/חַיּ֖וֹת
chay
H2416
alive
Conj | Art | N-fp
רָצ֣וֹא
râtsâʼ
H7519
to run
V-Qal-Ptc
וָ/שׁ֑וֹב
shûwb
H7725
to return
Conj | V-Qal-Ptc
כְּ/מַרְאֵ֖ה
marʼeh
H4758
appearance
Prep | N-ms
הַ/בָּזָֽק
bâzâq
H965
lightning
Art | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 1:14
וְ/הַ/חַיּ֖וֹת
chay
H2416
"alive"
Conj | Art | N-fp
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
רָצ֣וֹא
râtsâʼ
H7519
"to run"
V-Qal-Ptc
To run or delight in something is what this Hebrew word means. It can also mean to accept or approve of something. In the Bible, it is used to describe running or finding joy.
Definition: (Qal) to run
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: accept, run. See also: Ezekiel 1:14.
וָ/שׁ֑וֹב
shûwb
H7725
"to return"
Conj | V-Qal-Ptc
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Definition: : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back 1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment 1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore 1d3) to bring back, report to, answer 1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense) 1d5) to turn back or backward, repel, defeat, repulse, hinder, reject, refuse 1d6) to turn away (face), turn toward 1d7) to turn against 1d8) to bring back to mind 1d9) to show a turning away 1d10) to reverse, revoke 1e) (Hophal) to be returned, be restored, be brought back 1f) (Pulal) brought back
Usage: Occurs in 953 OT verses. KJV: ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. See also: Genesis 3:19; Numbers 8:25; Judges 8:13.
כְּ/מַרְאֵ֖ה
marʼeh
H4758
"appearance"
Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to a sight or appearance, and can describe something beautiful or a supernatural vision. It encompasses various aspects of seeing, including physical and mental perceptions, and is used in different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) sight, appearance, vision 1a) sight, phenomenon, spectacle, appearance, vision 1b) what is seen 1c) a vision (supernatural) 1d) sight, vision (power of seeing)
Usage: Occurs in 82 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] apparently, appearance(-reth), [idiom] as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision. See also: Genesis 2:9; Job 41:1; Isaiah 11:3.
הַ/בָּזָֽק
bâzâq
H965
"lightning"
Art | N-ms
This word describes a flash of lightning, a powerful and intense burst of energy from the sky. It appears in Ezekiel and Job, often symbolizing God's power and presence.
Definition: lightning, lightning flash
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: flash of lightning. See also: Ezekiel 1:14.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 1:14
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 1:14 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 1:14
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 1:14
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 1:14
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
- Sermons on Ezekiel 1:14
Context — The Four Living Creatures
12Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they moved.
13In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire, or of torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
14The creatures were darting back and forth as quickly as flashes of lightning.
15When I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16The workmanship of the wheels looked like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their workmanship looked like a wheel within a wheel.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 24:27 | For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. |
| 2 | Zechariah 4:10 | For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.” |
| 3 | Mark 13:27 | And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. |
| 4 | Matthew 24:31 | And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. |
| 5 | Luke 17:24 | For just as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will be the Son of Man in His day. |
| 6 | Psalms 147:15 | He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly. |
| 7 | Daniel 9:21 | while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. |
| 8 | Zechariah 2:3–4 | Then the angel who was speaking with me went out, and another angel came out to meet him and said to him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the multitude of men and livestock within it. |
Ezekiel 1:14 Summary
[The creatures in Ezekiel 1:14 are moving quickly, like flashes of lightning, which shows us how powerful and amazing God is, as described in Psalm 104:4. This reminds us of God's power and majesty, as seen in Ezekiel 1:13 and Revelation 10:1. The swift movement of the creatures also encourages us to reverence and worship God, as described in Revelation 4:8-11. As we reflect on this verse, we can ask ourselves how we can apply the concept of swift and powerful movement to our own lives, as described in Isaiah 40:31.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the creatures in Ezekiel 1:14 represent?
The creatures in Ezekiel 1:14 are likely symbolic of God's power and majesty, as seen in their ability to move quickly like flashes of lightning, reminiscent of the power of God described in Psalm 104:4 and Ezekiel 1:13.
Why are the creatures described as darting back and forth like flashes of lightning?
The description of the creatures moving like flashes of lightning emphasizes their swift and powerful movement, much like the angelic beings in Revelation 10:1 who move swiftly to accomplish God's will.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the vision in Ezekiel 1?
This verse is part of a larger vision of God's throne and the heavenly creatures that surround it, as described in Ezekiel 1:1-28, and it helps to emphasize the majesty and power of God, as seen in Isaiah 6:1-5 and Ezekiel 1:4-14.
What does this verse teach us about God's nature?
This verse teaches us about God's power, majesty, and ability to move swiftly and accomplish His will, as seen in Psalm 29:7 and Ezekiel 1:24, and it encourages us to reverence and worship Him, as described in Revelation 4:8-11.
Reflection Questions
- What does the image of the creatures darting back and forth like flashes of lightning evoke in my heart and mind, and how does it relate to my understanding of God's power and majesty?
- How can I apply the concept of swift and powerful movement, as seen in Ezekiel 1:14, to my own life and walk with God, as described in Isaiah 40:31?
- What are some ways that I can reverence and worship God, as described in Revelation 4:8-11, in response to the majesty and power displayed in Ezekiel 1:14?
- How does the description of the creatures in Ezekiel 1:14 relate to the overall theme of God's sovereignty and power in the book of Ezekiel, as seen in Ezekiel 1:1-28 and Ezekiel 37:1-14?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of being still and knowing that God is God, as described in Psalm 46:10, in the midst of a busy and chaotic world?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 1:14
And the living creatures ran,.... Did their work with great readiness and swiftness; so, especially in the latter day, ministers of the Gospel shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 1:14
And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. The living creatures ran and returned.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
The living creatures; angels, ministers of the Divine pleasure, as above, . Ran; were speedy in their motions; this signified by this expression figuratively applied to angels. Returned; yet, ,12, it is said they returned not, where this seeming contradiction is reconciled; the 9th and 12th verse deny their turning aside from their work, this 14th affirms they returned, i.e. when they had done their work. As the appearance of a flash of lightning; very quick, with vehemency, splendour, and irresistible efficacy.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
Ezekiel 1:14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.Ver. 14. And the living creatures ran and returned.] As soon as ever their work was done, they came back to him who sent them out to know his further pleasure, and to do him more service. When the angel had lessoned the good women about our Saviour’ s resurrection, he biddeth them "go quickly and tell his disciples," &c., and then dismisseth them, with "Lo, I have told you," q.d., Begone now about your business, you have your full errand; why linger ye? pack away. As the appearance of a flash of lightning.] Which appeareth aud disappeareth in an instant.
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
(14) A flash of lightning.—Not only was the appearance of the cherubim thus glittering, but also their speed as they “ran and returned” was that of the lightning. The vision up to this point, so far as we may venture to interpret its object, seems designed to show forth the power and activity, the irresistible energy of the agencies employed for the fulfilment of the Divine purposes, and at the same time their perfectly harmonious action, controlled by one supreme will. We now enter upon a fresh phase of the vision, in which the same things are represented still further by an additional and peculiar symbolism.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
Verse 14. The living creatures ran and returned] They had a circular movement; they were in rapid motion, but did not increase their distance from the spectator. So I think this should be understood.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 1:14
14. Jerome testifies that this verse was not found in LXX. The verse both in regard to terminology and construction is untranslateable. The word rendered “ran” has no existence, and that translated “flash of lightning” is equally unknown. Attempts have been made to amend the verse by substituting for “ran” a real word, “went out” (yaço for raço), and the ordinary word “lightning” for the unknown term so rendered (baraḳ ? for bazaḳ ?). But such a movement to and fro or backwards and forwards of the living creatures is not suggested by anything said of them hitherto or afterwards; they could not move without a movement of the whole chariot, and such a darting about like lightning offends against that which is becoming in the divine manifestation. The verse is probably a marginal amplification of Eze 1:13, due to the error which had already crept into that verse, making it apply to the living creatures instead of to the fire between them.
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 1:14
14. This verse is probably a marginal gloss (Kautzsch). The Hebrew text is damaged and obscure. This fact did not prevent Mr.
Sermons on Ezekiel 1:14
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Blood Covenant) the Mark of God or the Mark of the Beast - 2 by Milton Green | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of possessing the land and entering into God's rest. He emphasizes the need to fear falling short of this promise and encourag |
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Promise of His Coming by G.B. Duncan | The sermon transcript discusses the promise of Jesus' second coming, emphasizing the suddenness and unexpectedness of his arrival. The speaker addresses three questions about the s |
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Demonology & Deliverance, Part 1 - Lester Sumrall by From the Pulpit & Classic Sermons | In this video, Lester Sumerall delivers a powerful sermon on demonology and deliverance. He emphasizes the importance of studying and understanding the existence and power of demon |
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The Second Coming of Christ by Harvey Reiff | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the seriousness of the return of Christ and the impending judgment that will follow. He references Peter's words in 1 Peter 4:7-9, where Pet |
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When Will Jesus Come to Me? by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the question of how to obtain a new life in Christ. He refers to a conversation in Matthew chapter 24 where Jesus' followers ask about the sig |
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Matthew 24:23-31. Christ Describes His Second Coming. by Favell Lee Mortimer | Favell Lee Mortimer preaches about the comforting assurance that believers have had for centuries, knowing that Jesus will return in a public and glorious manner, visible to all. T |
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Who Is This Son of Man? by H.J. Vine | H.J. Vine preaches about the glorious and astonishing things spoken of the Son of Man, emphasizing His wonderful works, ways, and worth as shown in the Scriptures. The Son of Man's |